FT.WORTH, TX – After nearly a year of
preparation, American Eagle pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots
Association, International (ALPA), today commence interim contract negotiations
to improve pilot wages and working conditions.

The current contract talks are part of several
amendment rounds built into the Eagle pilots’ 16-year agreement to ensure that
its terms and conditions are adjusted every four years to keep pace with pilot
contracts at peer carriers and to reflect the growth and success of American
Eagle Airlines. The pilots provided labor stability and operational
predictability when they negotiated the agreement in 1997, in exchange for pay
and work rules that would grow with the industry.

"We see this as an opportunity to make
some positive changes for our pilots," said Capt. Herb Mark, chairman of
the Eagle pilots’ Master Executive Council. "Our present agreement does
not take into consideration the major changes or the considerable expansion that
have taken place at our airline in the last seven years. These days, Eagle is a
major player in the industry and flies over 1,400 daily flights to more than 130
cities in North America including the Caribbean. We need a contract that will
help us recruit and retain the best pilots in the industry, if we are to
maintain this level of success."

Capt. Andy Nordgren, chairman of the Eagle
pilots’ negotiating team, added, "We are pleased with the spirit of
cooperation and professionalism we’ve witnessed from our management team as
we’ve prepared for these talks. The Eagle pilots hope that this attitude and
atmosphere will prevail as we confront much-needed improvements to our labor
agreement."

ALPA represents 64,000 airline pilots at 42
airlines in the U.S. and Canada. Its website is www.alpa.org.